Means for changing the needles of gramophones and like machines



Nov. 11, 1930. L. MANGHAM ,5 I MEANS FOR CHANGING THE NEEDLES 0F GRAMOPHONES AND LIKE MACHINES Filed Dec. 19 192-! Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEONARDlMANGHAM, OF WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, ASSIGNOR TO MANGHAMS AUTOMATIC NEEDLE CHANGER LIMITED, OF WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND MEANS non CHANGING THE NEEDLES on GRAMOPHONES AND LIK MACHINES Application filed December 19, 1927, Serial No. 241,228, and in New Zealand May 30, 1927.

This invention relates to means for effecting a change of needles in gramophones and like machines, and has for its object, the provision of improved means, whereby a change of needlesfor the reproducer, may be effected automatically by the movements of the tone arm carrying the reproducer, as it is moved back to its rest position after the playing of each record.

The said means are designed in their operation, first as the tone armis moved outwards from a record, to discharge the used needle then held in the reproducer stylus block, and afterwards to feed a new needle point downwards, into the stylus block, and then as the tone arm is returned inwards to cause such needle to'be effectually gripped in the Y stylus block with its point projecting downwards for the necessary distance.

'The invention consists in providing on the reproducer of a gramophone or like machine, a'needle gripper operated to release a needle by means of a lever engaging a fixed cam surface; during outward movement of the tone 25 arm, a needle transfer plate actuated by the reproducer during the same movement of the tone arm to deliver a needle tothe stylus block; and a needle supporting platform adjusted belowsaid stylus block when the latter is in the needle receiving position.

In the accompanying drawing in conjunction with which the invention will be more particularly described:

Figure 1 is a part perspective'view of a gramophone fitted with the invention,

Figure 2 an elevation and Figure3 a plan view ofthe reproducer, Figure 4 a sectional plan View of the stylus block showing the needle gripping means,

Figure 5 a part plan view illustrating the platform for supporting the needle before they are gripped in the stylus block,

Figure 6 a cross'sectional view of the needle supporting platform, a

' Figure 7 a cross sectional view of a needle magazine or container and a suitable mounting for same,

re 8 an elevation of the face plate through which the needles are fed from the magazine or container to the transfer plate extending down right through it so that it extends in a more or less radial line from the reproducer centre. The passage 3 iscrossed at right angles by a pin or plunger slidable in i the block 1, and which is afterwards referred to as the locking pin 4. This locking pin is formed on one of its sides with a notch 4 having a'transversely inclined or wedging surface so designed as to provide that when the locking pin 4 is moved to bring the notch 4 fully into coincidence wth the needle passage 3, a needle 5 may pass freely down through the latter and when the pin 4 is moved along in one direction the passage 3 is more or less closed. A needle 5 in the passage 3, will be thus gripped by the wedging nature of the notch 4 A spring 6 acts on the locking' pin 4 tonormally moveit in the direction to cause the notch 4" to engage and grip a nedle 5, inserted in the passage 3.

For moving this locking pin 4 against the action of its spring 6 a lever 7 (Figures 2 and 4) is pivoted at 7 a to the stylus block 1' and is formed to engage in a cross slot in the outer end of the pin 4, and also with a nose 7 adapted to engage a cam surface 8 on a guide 12 (Figures 1 and 5) fixed upon the gramophone bed 9 in such a position, that as the tone arm 10 is swung outwards to its at rest, position, the nose 7'? ofthe lever 7 will engage said cam surface 8 and turn said lever 7 on its pivot 7 a to move the locking pin 4 to cause the large end of its notch'4 to come into coincidence with the needle passage 3 of the stylus block 1. This engagement and movement is designed to take place just before the tone arm 10 reaches the limit of its outward swing in order that the needle 5 that may then be in the block 1 will be freed and will drop clear before the tone arm 10 finishes its outward movement. The locking pin 4 will then be held in this position by the contact of the lever 7 with the cam surface 8 to needle passage 3 while the tone arm 10 remains in the position of rest at the limit of its outward movement with the lug 11 of the reproducer resting on the guide 12. When the tone arm; 10 is moved inwards again, the lever 7 is freed of the cam surface 8, and the spring 6 acting on the locking pin 4 immediately causes it to wedge or grip the needle 5 that has been fed into the passage 3 by means to be hereinafter describe To hold the needle 5 fed into the stylus block 1 from dropping right through the needle passage 3, and also to position it therein to provide for the correct projection of its point, a platform plate 13 (Figures 1 and 5) is pivoted at 13 on the gramophone bed 9 to swing in a horizontal plane. This plate 13 is so governed by a tension spring 14 and a stop 15 that the outer portion thereof is normally located immediately beneath the reproducer stylus block 1 when the tone arm 10 is at the rest positionor at the limit of its outward swing, and with the needle passage 3 open. A needle 5 falling through the said passage 3 will therefore strike-the said plate 13 which will hold it from dropping right through and being properly disposed in its level will prevent the needle from projecting more than the required distance'below the stylus block 1. This outer portion of the plate 13 is made with a vertical flange or PI'OJGCtiOIl 16 at one edge, and the needle .5-

as the tone arm 10 is swung inwards, engages said flange or projection 16 and causes the plate 13 to turn on its pivot 13 with the tone arm 10, until the latter has moved far enough to cause the lever 7 to clear the cam surface 8 and the new needle to be gripped. Further movement of the needle 5 towards the centre of the machine brushes the plate 13 aside, after which the latter is returned to against the stop 15 by the spring 14 read for use on the next occasion, the stylus block 1 is in the needle receiving position, the return movement being checked b the arm 31 enga 'ng and finally clearing the needle. The re easing of a used needle on the outward swin of the tone arm 10 is timed to take place be ore the 'reproducer 2 reaches this plate 13 so that the latter will not interfere wih the dropping clear of the used needle.

In order that the dropping of the needles 5 through the passage 3 in the stylus block 1' on to the plate 13 will not injure the points of said needles, the plate 13 is provided with a dovetailed groove 16 into which the needle points project as shown in Figure 6.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, the tone arm 10 is not shown at the extreme limit of its outward movement, but for the sake of clearness of illustration it is shown with thelug 11 'ust resting on the end of the guide 12, and in order to bring the tone arm 10 completely to the at rest position it must be moved by sliding the lug 11 along the guide ma ter 12 until'the limit of the outward swing of said tone arm 10 is reached, and in order to ensure the latter being kept in the one horizontal plane during the latter portion of the outward movement, and the first portion of the inward movement of the tone arm, so that the lever 7 operating the locking pin 4 will be maintained in contact with the cam surface 8, an upper guide 12 is placed on the guide 12, the lug 11 being slid or passed between said guides 12 and 12 For the purpose of supplying needles one at a time to the reproducer 2 as required, a container or magazine 17 is provided the latter having the needles 5 placed horizontally therein with their points directed inwards, said container or magazine 17 taperingdownwards to a passage 17 of such a width that the needles 5 can only pass down same in a single row.

The container or magazine 17 is detachable from the machine and is intended to be manufactured and loaded with needles 5 in a factory for sale as a complete unit, said container or magazine having flanges 18 which slide into a groove 18 at the back of a plate 19 mounted on the bed 9 of the machine, so that the lower end of the passage 17 in the container or magazine 17 will register with the upper end of an inclined slot 20 the lower end of which opens horizontally through said plate 19.

A further plate 21 pivoted at 21* to the face plate 19 is mounted between the latter and a cover plate 22, and contains in its face which contacts with the face plate 19, a recess 23 large enough to receive and accommodate a single needle 5, said plate 21 under the action of a tension spring 24 attached thereto and to the cover plate 22, being normally maintained in the position indicated in Figure 1 with the recess 23 horizontal and registering with the lower end of the inclined slot 20 opening through the plate, 19, a lug 25 on the plate 21 by engaging a stop 26 between the plates 19 and 22, limiting movement of the plate 19 under the action of the spring 24 and causing the registration of the recess 23 with the slot 20.

With the recess 23 in a horizontal position as described it receives a needle 5 from the container or magazine 17 by way of the slot 20 the point of the needle being directed toward the pivot 21 and as the tone arm 10 is moved by sliding the lug 11 outwards or; in the direct-ion indicated by the arrow (Figure 1) between the guides 12 and 12, an arm 27 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) extending from the reproducer 2, strikes an arm 28 (Figures 1 and 9) projecting from the plate 21 below-its pivot 21*, whereby said plate 21 is caused to swing upwards, through a quarter circle and change the position of the recess 23 from horizontal to vertical (see dotted positions Figure 1).

simultaneously with the bringingof the recess 23 to the vertical position the tone arm 10 comes to its at rest position with the needle passage 3 in the stylus block 1 directly below the now vertical recess 23, and over the plate 13, and also directly belowa vertical passage 30* in a boss 30on the plate 19 on which boss 30 the plate 21 pivots, so that the needle in said recess 23, transferred from the horizontal to the vertical will drop point downwards through the passages 30 and 3 on to the plate 13, and when the tone arm 10 is returned inwards over the machine, said needle will be locked or gripped in the block 1 and will clear the plate 13 as before described. The stop 15 against which the plate 13 is held by the spring 14, extends from the plate 19 (Figure 8) and as the plate 13 is returned by said spring 14 with a quick movement it strikes the stop 15 a sharp blow which serves to ensure the passage of needles down the slot 20 to the recess 23. 4

What I do claim and desire to obtain b Letters Patentof the United States of America is 2- 1. Means for changing the needles of phonographs comprising a needle gripping device-carried by the stylus block including a release lever, acam fixed to the casing of a machine engageable with said lever by movement of the tone arm upon which said stylus block is mounted, to rest position, toward said cam for releasing the needle, a needle magazine, and a transfer device for receiving a needle from said magazine and delivering it to said gripping device, said transfer device also being actuated by movement of the tone arm.

2. Means for changing the needles of phonographs comprising a needle gripping de-' 'vice carried by the stylus block including a release lever, a cam fixed to the casing of a machine engageable with said lever by movement of the tone arm upon which said stylus nographs and the like as claimed in claim 2, the needle supporting platform being pivoted so as to move in a horizontal plane and having a normal position of repose below the stylus block when the tone arm is at the limit of its outward movement.

4. Means for changing the needles of phonographs asclaimed in claim 2, the support-.

ing platform being pivoted to move in a horizontal plane and having a normal position of repose below the stylus block when the tone arm is at the limit' of its outward movement, said platform having a portion engaged by the needle newly fed to said gripping device, whereby said platform is moved inwardly by said needle upon the initial inward movement of said tone arm so as to be maintained beneath said needle until the needle is gripped in the stylus block after said release lever has moved beyond the actuating cam.

5. Means for changing the needles of phonographs as claimed in claim 2', the supporting platform being pivoted to move in a horizontal plane and having a normal position of repose below the stylus block when the tone arm is at the limit of its outward movement, said support having a portion engaged by the needle newly fed to said gripping device, whereby said platform is moved inwardly by said needle upon the initial inward movement of said tone arm so as tobe maintained beneath said needle until the needle is gripped in the stylus block after said release lever has moved beyond the actuating cam, said platform being formed with a groove adjacent said'flange for receiving the point of the needle when the needle descends through said gripping device.

6. Means for changing the needles of phonographs as claimed in claim '1 the said transfer device being formed with a slot for receiving a needle from said magazine, and

- with means engageable by an element movable with'said tone arm for swinging said transfer device to the position in which said needle is delivered to said grippingdevice.

7. Means for changing the .needles of phonographs as claimed in claim 1 thesaid transfer device being formed with a slot for receiving a needle from said magazine, and with means engageable by an element 'movable with said tone arm for swinging said transfer device to the position in which said needle isdelivered to said gripping device, and a spring for returning said transfer device to normal position.

8. Means for changing the needles of .phonographs as claimed in claim 1, the said needle magazine being detachably connected to a conduit for delivering needles singly, to said transfer device. v

9.- Means for changing the needles of phonographs as claimed in claim 1 the said transfer device being pivotally connected adjacent a plate having a slot adapted to register'with the slot in said transfer device when the latter is in repose position, and a ma azinc detachably connected to ,said plate or feeding needles singly to the slot in said. plate.

10. Means for changing the needles of phonographs and the li e as claimed in claim 4- igreneer 2, the platform being provided with means engageable with the gripped needle upon the inward swing of the tone arm and after the release of the platform from engagement 5 with the needle, for engaging said needle to retard the force of the return of said-platform to repose position.

11. Means for changing the needles of phonographs as claimed in claim 2 including a plate between said magazine and transfer device, the latter being pivotally mounted and formed with a slot normally horizontal in the position of repose of said transfer device, said plate'having a slot registering with said magazine and with said transfer device in the repose position of the latter for conducting a needle from said magazine to said transfer device, the latter being swingable to a position in which said needle is delivered to said gripping device, a spring for returning said transfer device to its repose position, means carried by said tone arm for swinging said transfer device to needle delivering position, when said tone arm reaches substantial ly the outermost limit of its movement, said platform being pivoted so as to move in a horizontal plane and having a normal position of repose below the stylus block when the tone arm is at the limit of its outward move ment, said platform having a portion engaged by the needle newly fed to said gripping device whereby said platform is moved inwardly by said needle when said tone arm begins to swing inwardly so as to be maintained beneath said needle for determining the level. of the point thereof until said needle is gripped by the stylus block after the release lever has moved beyond its actuating cam, a spring for returning said platform to its repose position after having been released from said needle, said plate having-a portion engagedby said platform-upon its return to repose position acting as a stop for said platform and as ajarring means for said 4 plate thereby ensuring the feed of a needle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEONARD MANGHAM. 

